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Sunday, February 22, 2015

Some German judo news

(Via IJF)

QUANTITY AND QUALITY IN DÜSSELDORF FOR THE 2015 SEASON KICKOFF

The IJF President, Mr. Marius Vizer, who was present in
Düsseldorf for this third day of competition declared: “We had a really
good kickoff the 2015 season here in Germany. In terms of number of
participants and number of countries, this Grand Prix is a success. But
it is also the case from a technical perspective. It shows the quality
of the athletes, who are ready to compete throughout the season the get
qualified for the Games next year. The overall quality was very good. I
am also pleased to see that we had a very enthusiastic public throughout
the weekend. I could follow the first two days from abroad and the
event really looked good on TV. To have full stadiums is important for
our sport. I wish to the judo family to have a fantastic year were
quality will be the key word at all level.

A MINUTE OF SILENCE IN THE MEMORY OF WILLEM RUSKA

A week ago the judo family lost one of its greatest
legends as Willem Ruska of the Netherlands passed away aged 74. The 1972
double Olympic gold medallist was inducted into the IJF Hall of Fame in
2013. The public, officials and athletes were kindly asked to please
observe a minute’s silence in the memory of Willem Ruska.

AWARDS

Just before the final block, Mr. Vladimir Barta, the
IJF Head Sports Director, presented an IJF plaque to Ursola Braun, who
has been a life long photographer for the German Judo Federation and a
national referee for many years. At the end of the final block. Mr.
Barta also presented an IJF Placket to Heide WOLLERT (GER), bronze
medallist at the 2009 World Championships in Rotterdam, who put an end
to her sports career.

MIRYAM ROPER, BACK TO HER FAMILY ROOTS IN PANAMA

During the last day of competition, the IJF media
department met Miryam Roper (GER). The world number three and 2013 world
bronze medallist was supposed to compete in Düsseldorf but because she
was sick had to withdraw a few days prior to the event. Nevertheless,
she spent the whole weekend in Düsseldorf to meet her fans and the
media. “Three days without competing, it is really difficult. I really
wanted to be on the tatami, but that was not possible. Today, I have the
impression to be more tired than if I had fought“, explained the
champion.

It was also the occasion for her to explain more about
her last trip to Panama. “My father is from Panama, but I was there only
once and it was 16 years ago, even though I have a lot of family
there.“ Miryam Roper was in her father’s home country from December 15
to 20, 2014. “The country has changed a lot since the last time I was
there. It has become more modern. In one part of Panama City, I even had
the impression to be in Dubai. The Panama channel helps a lot with the
economy. But still the infrastructure is fragile“, says Miryam Roper.

But she was not only there to visit her family. She was
also invited by a friend, Omar, to visit his club and train with
children. “The most complicated for me was the timing (laughs). I am
German and I like to be on time. But it was so great to share my
experience with the children. The training conditions are complicated.
There is a lack of equipment but people are very motivated and they were
keen to meet me and I was to meet them.“

Miryam Roper participated in several judo sessions with
participants from 3 to 20 years old and even her little cousin, who she
never met before did her first judo lesson: “She is only 12 years old.
The last time I came here, she wasn’t born. She is really strong and
motivated and after two hours she was able to do some nice o-soto-gari
and o-goshi. We were both very proud.“ She was also invited by the
Federation President, Mrs. Estela Riley: “she really wants to develop
judo and the potential exists. They just need to get a little organized
and supported. I have visited the high level center. It was interesting
for me to see the training condition, since not everybody has the chance
to train in the same facilities as we do in Europe. But still they have
young competitors who have a good potential.“

After having visited the training center where judo
shares a venue with boxing and wrestling, Miryam Roper went to her
friend’s judo club which is located in a disadvantaged area. “Children
are not paying to practice judo and Omar’s project has been existing for
several years. All the young judoka were really interested in knowing
more about me and about top level judo.“

Although the Olympic qualification is in full swing,
the German star is already thinking about going back to Panama again to
help the development of judo: “I know that they want to organize
something bigger the next time I go there. In 2015, I don’t know yet if
I’ll be able to travel, since I have to get concentrated on my Olympic
qualification. But this trip only focused on Panama City, and it would
be interesting to extend that to the whole country.“ While in Panama,
because Miryam Roper is a ‘professional’ athlete and because she loves
judo, she also took the opportunity to answer media interviews in order
to promote the sport around the country.